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Br J Ophthalmol 2009;93:1042-1046 doi:10.1136/bjo.2008.153684
  • Original Article
  • Clinical Science

Long-term survival of uveal melanoma patients after surgery for liver metastases

  1. S Frenkel1,
  2. I Nir2,
  3. K Hendler1,
  4. M Lotem3,
  5. A Eid2,
  6. O Jurim2,
  7. J Pe’er1
  1. 1
    Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
  2. 2
    Department of Surgery, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
  3. 3
    Department of Oncology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
  1. Correspondence to Dr J Pe’er, Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah University Medical Center, PO Box 12000, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; peer{at}hadassah.org.il
  • Accepted 1 April 2009
  • Published Online First 7 May 2009

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the posthepatectomy survival of uveal melanoma patients with liver metastases.

Methods: Data were collected from the files in the Departments of Ophthalmology, General Surgery and Oncology, for uveal melanoma patients who were seen in the Ocular Oncology Clinic at the Hadassah Medical Center from 1988 to 2007. The main outcome was posthepatectomy survival. Statistical analysis was performed using JMP statistical software.

Results: Of the 558 patients, 74 (13%) developed metastases after a median of 35.0 months from the initial diagnosis. Thirty-five patients underwent hepatectomy. These patients had similar clinical characteristics as those who did not undergo hepatectomy. The median survival time from the detection of metastasis was 3.7-fold higher in the operated patients in comparison with the non-operated patients. Posthepatectomy survival of patients who were found in surgery to have 1–5 metastatic nodules was 3.1 times longer than those with six or more lesions. The hepatectomies of 13 patients resulted in complete resection of the hepatic metastases with clean histological margins (R0). These patients survived 1.9 times longer than those with residual disease (R1/R2).

Conclusion: It is possible to extend significantly the life expectancy of uveal melanoma patients who develop isolated hepatic metastases by complete resection of the lesions.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests None.

  • Ethics approval Ethics approval was provided by the Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects of The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.

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  • At a glance: At a glance Br J Ophthalmol 2009;93:i doi:10.1136/bjo.2009.167163

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